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Best and worst foods for your picnic

With Memorial Day right around the corner, many Americans will be heading to their backyards and parks for quality time with friends and family. But many of those Americans may too be putting diet-wrecking, artery-clogging fatty fare in their bodies.

But it doesn't have to be that way. From our friends at Health.com, here's a list of the best and worst foods you should pick or skip if you're attending a barbecue, as well as healthy recipes you can bring or serve at your own Memorial Day spread...

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Everyone seems to love a good burger - but not every burger is the same. Whether it's a hamburger, cheeseburger, turkey or veggie burger - cooking method, portion size, type of bread and toppings can mean the difference between a relatively harmless lunch and a day's worth of calories, fat, and sodium.
From our friends at Health.com, here are the nation's best and worst burgers, down to one that is "so bad it should be illegal"...
More from Health.com: <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20388238,00.html">Best healthy burger recipes</a>
istockphoto

Burgers

Worst

We love burgers. But they can be calorie and saturated fat bombs--so choose carefully. A plain burger on a bun is about 270 calories and 4 grams of saturated fat (20 percent of the daily value), but make it a large one with toppings and you're up to 512 calories and 52 percent of your daily value for saturated fat (over 10 grams), or more.

If you're the cook, consider Ground Sirloin Sliders, tasty bites that deliver only 283 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat in each serving (two sliders).

Best and worst foods for your picnic

"I know this can be tough for parents, but the big decisions about what to eat must be made by you at the supermarket," Dr. Oz says. Here's why: If you bring chips and cookies home, your kids (and you) will naturally want to eat them.
And if you try to restrict them, you'll actually cause your child to crave them more. But if you don't buy the sweets to begin with, kids won't even miss them, Dr. Oz promises. Keep good-news snacks on hand (like nuts and pretzels) and fruit and veggies washed and chopped in your fridge. "Kids will eat healthy snacks when they get hungry enough," Dr. Oz says.More from health.com: <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20396050,00.html">Secrets to a stress-free, happy, healthy family</a>
Larisa Lofitskaya

Watermelon

Best

Fun to eat, and good for you too, a healthy wedge of watermelon has just 86 calories. You also get less than one gram of fat, and a decent amount of vitamin C, beta carotene, and lycopene. What's more, watermelon's a great thirst-quencher - it's 92 percent water.

This summer fruit is a classic and fine on its own. But if you want to get fancy, serve it up in a Watermelon, Feta, and Grilled Shrimp Salad or as a frosty drink, Pressed Watermelon and Basil Water.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Corn, beans, and stringy vegetables like raw celery and broccoli aren't easily digested; in Crohn's they can cause cramping, bloating, and diarrhea.
"We call it roughage, and it's rough on your system," says Dr. Kane. "For a healthy intestine, that is a good thing, but for an inflamed one, it can be bad. Having to process things that are still intact will make some people really uncomfortable."
Dr. Kane suggests trying a "low-residue diet" that is low in fiber and other foods that are difficult to digest like raw fruit, vegetable peels, and seeds. "When you have active IBD symptoms, these foods are just going to make you feel lousy," she says.
More from Health.com: <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20500615,00.html" >14 foods to avoid if you have ulcerative colitis</a>
Flickr/goldberg

Corn on the cob

Best

Grill your corn on the cob, or if you won't have a grill handy, cook it at home until barely done, then wrap the ears in tinfoil, and pack them in a cooler.

Even if you use a little butter, it's still pretty healthy; one buttered ear has 155 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 29 mg of sodium. You can also squeeze some lime juice on the cob and sprinkle it with some cayenne pepper and Parmesan cheese, and you'll have a healthier version of elote, a tasty Mexican street food.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Getty Images

Pulled pork sandwich

Worst

This stuff tastes great, but the traditional version of this dish--pulled pork in barbecue sauce--delivers 418 calories and 1658 mg of sodium per 1-cup serving. And that's without a bun. Yikes! (The Institute of Medicine recommends no more than 2300 mg of sodium daily and no more than 1500 mg if you're African American, over 50, or have high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health issues.)

If you're a pulled pork fanatic, try this BBQ Pork Sandwich recipe, which delivers 398 calories and 726 mg of sodium per 2/3 cup serving, which includes the bun. Just make sure to put it on a whole wheat hamburger bun.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

The low-fat diet popularized by Dr. Dean Ornish emphasizes produce, whole grains, and fish. The diet is good for your heart, and it's likely that it can help curb the risk for diabetes. If you stick with the more restrictive eating plan Ornish advocates, weight loss is likely, <a href="http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-weight-loss-diets" >U.S. News</a> says.
Score: 3.0
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Grilled fish or seafood

Best

Fish is relatively low in calories, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and cooks in just a few minutes on the grill.

You'll only go wrong if you deep fry, serve with calorie-laden sauces, or choose types prone to high levels of mercury, such as swordfish, shark, mackerel king, or tilefish.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Basket of crispy fried chicken with fries out of focus on a blue background.

Fried chicken

Worst

It may be tasty, but those buckets of fried chicken from KFC and its many imitators are chock-full of calories, fat, and sodium.

An Original Recipe chicken breast has 360 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 1,080 mg of sodium. Want that chicken breast extra crispy? That will run you 510 calories, 33 grams of fat, and 1,010 mg of sodium. Spicy crispy? That's 420 calories, 25 grams of fat, and a whopping 1,250 mg of sodium.

KFC does offer grilled chicken, which is a much better nutritional choice at 220 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 730 mg of sodium.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Health.com

Oven-fried chicken

Best

You can make your own "finger-lickin' good" chicken in the oven, with a crunchy crust just like the real thing, but not quite as much fat and sodium. Try this Oven-Fried Chicken, which has 450 calories per serving, 13.8 grams of fat, and 803 mg of sodium.

You can also get even healthier and whip up some Buttermilk Pecan Chicken, which has 307 calories per serving, 10 grams of fat, and 138 mg of sodium.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Getty Images

Potato salad

Worst

This one can be a diet disaster. Traditional potato salad with full fat mayo and eggs delivers 358 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 170 mg of cholesterol (300 mg per day is the max limit for healthy people; 200 for those with high cholesterol) per 1-cup serving.

Also try using purple potatoes, which are richer in antioxidants. "That's also a way to make it a little bit healthier, and fun too," says Carolyn Brown, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at FoodTrainers in New York City. "It looks cool."

Best and worst foods for your picnic

According to a new study, eating certain junk foods on a regular basis can increase your risk of depression. Jeff Glor and Rebecca Jarvis discuss the findings with Dr. Holly Phillips.

Hot dogs

Worst

This one is tricky. What's better at a cookout than a couple of dogs tossed on the grill? Nothing--if you choose the right hot dog.

Try to pick one that has less than 150 calories and fewer than 14 grams of fat (with no more than 6 grams saturated). Sodium shouldn't go over 450 mg and you may want to skip those with a filler, mechanically separated meat, in the ingredient list.

But just keep in mind that fruit is high in natural sugar. If you have diabetes or prediabetes you may need to watch portion sizes. And any fruit salad with high-calorie toppings (think mayo-soaked Waldorf salad) can be problematic; even this Lightened Waldorf Salad delivers 186 calories in a 1-cup serving.

Coleslaw

Coleslaw delivers about 47 calories and 2 grams of fat per 1-cup serving. (Add in mayo and it's closer to 80 calories or more per serving). But the bland color and taste sometimes makes 'slaw the most likely candidate for the "leftovers" category.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Smart choice: Made-to-order pasta
Why it's healthy: Craving something hearty? Visit the pasta cart in the On-Deck Station at Miller Park and choose cavatappi pasta, fresh vegetables, and Marinara sauce. Just be sure to monitor your portions as too much pasta won't do your waistline any favors.
Calories: Although the exact calorie count for a pasta cart dish is not available, the entire meal should score you approximately 350 calories based on the calories in one serving of pasta, sauce, and veggies.
Rooey202/Flickr - actual image not available

Pasta salad

Best

With pasta salad, the devil is in the details. If you're scooping mayo-soaked macaroni onto your plate, expect to consume about 390 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving. And those calories are pretty darn empty. But pasta salad can be so much more, so that's why we think it's the best.

Start with whole-wheat pasta and add low-cal ingredients, like veggies, and boost the protein with low-fat cheese or lean meat.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Prepackaged chips and dip

Worst

What host or hostess hasn't grabbed a giant bag of chips and a tub of a prepackaged dip in an effort to satisfy hungry guests?

That's fine, but two tablespoons of ready-made sour cream and onion dip has 60 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 250 mg of sodium, while a 1-ounce serving of chips has 154 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 136 mg of sodium.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

SanFranAnnie/Flickr

Sweet iced tea

Worst

If you're looking to cut calories, sweet beverages are a good place to start. While iced tea can have fewer calories than soda (140 calories per 8-ounce can, depending on soda type), commercial iced tea brands may not be that far off (120 calories per 8-ounce can, although it varies so check the label). If you use a powdered brand, and stick to the recommended 1 1/3 tablespoons of powder for every 8-ounce glass, it delivers 70 calories (again, check the brand's label). If you use more powder though, you'll get more calories.

Try this recipe for Pomegranate and Lime Iced Tea. It delivers only 59 calories per 8-ounce serving and you'll be getting some antioxidants and vitamin C along with those calories.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Health.com

Homemade dip and chips

Best

If you're whipping up several different dishes, you may not have time to make your own dip or chips.

But if you have the time, or you're bringing a dish to share, consider making one that's both healthy and tastes great.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Health.com

Deviled eggs

Worst

Deviled eggs are cute, but their story is mixed in terms of nutrition. Whether you love them or hate them (most people seem to feel one way or the other), the traditional dish can deliver about 60 calories and 120 mg cholesterol per 1/2 egg serving.

Make them healthier by using the barest bit of mayo--or none at all. You can substitute with cottage cheese, greek yogurt, or even avocado!

Try this recipe: New American Deviled Eggs, which has 34 calories and 53 mg of cholesterol per 1/2 egg serving, and uses low-fat mayo, fat-free yogurt, and even some baked potato in the mix.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Kanko*/Flickr

Apple pie

Best

We're big fans of apple pie. It's as cool as the American flag, your granny, and jumping in lakes.

What we're not fans of are pies that deliver mega-calories or unhealthy fats. A slice of some store-bought pies can deliver 330 calories and 18 grams of fat, and may contain dangerous trans fat. If that's what's available, skip it or practice portion control and have just a sliver.

If you're up for some baking, try these recipes: Classic Apple Pie, which delivers 298 calories and 8 grams of fat per slice or this scrumptious Caramel Apple Pie, at just 276 calories and 9 grams of fat per slice.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Brownies
AP

Brownies

Worst

A brownie bought from a grocery store or fast-food outlet can deliver 227 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 144 mg of sodium (or more). But there are other ways.

Believe it or not, it's possible to make a healthier brownie that tastes great.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

A nine-year-old boy had a good idea: To provide kids all over the country with lemonade stands complete with lemonade to sell, and all the proceeds go to a local charity of each child's choice. We'll talk with the nine-year-old boy who came up with the idea for The Pink Lemonade Brigade. (Producer: Dan Aldworth /Megan Jordan)
CBS/IStockphoto

Lemonade

Worst

Like iced tea, sweet lemonade can over-deliver calories. An 8-ounce serving made with mix has about 70 calories, while bottled, sugar-sweetened lemonade can have 140 calories per 12-ounce serving (depending on the brand).

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Next on the "Dirty Dozen" are cherry tomatoes. One single sample of cherry tomatoes tested positive for 13 different types of pesticides, the EWG's report found.
istockphoto

Cherry or grape tomatoes

Best

They're the perfect size for popping in your mouth, they're delicious, and they're great for you. A cup of cherry tomatoes has just 27 calories and lots of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants.

Brown suggests getting cherry tomatoes--and any other fruits and veggies that you can--at a farmer's market during picnic season. "Talk to the farmers about what's good," she says.

Serve them on their own, toss them in a Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Salad, or make them into Cherry Tomato Salsa and use as a dip.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

ceemarie/Flickr

Fruit and cheese platter

Best

Keep it simple by bringing along some fruit and cheese. Keep in mind that hard cheeses tend to stand up better under picnic conditions. (Long hours of hot sun plus Brie equals soggy mess.)

A few tasty combinations: cheddar or Gruyere and apples (sprinkle with lemon or lime juice to avoid browning); watermelon and feta; ripe figs and blue cheese; tomatoes and mozzarella; or ricotta and grapes.

Pack fruit and cheese separately to keep the flavors fresh.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

Flickr/Megan Hammond

Buffalo chicken dip

Worst

This dip is addicting! The taste of Buffalo chicken wings served up as a dip (it contains chicken, hot sauce, blue cheese, and cream cheese), just one serving - 5 to 6 tablespoons - delivers 284 calories and 23 grams of fat, including 9 grams of saturated fat. And it's hard to eat just one serving!

To make it healthier, use reduced-fat cream cheese; replace cheddar with the reduced-fat cheese of your choice; and substitute no-fat Ranch dressing for the full-fat kind. That will cut it down to 110 calories and 6 grams of fat per 1/4 cup serving. Then it's up to you to practice portion control.

Hint: Use celery or carrots instead of tortilla chips when you dip.

Best and worst foods for your picnic

sanchom/Flickr

S'mores

Best

This isn't the healthiest pick, but they're so darn tasty and fun, it's hard to say no. Portion control should be your mantra with these treats.

If you're eating the classic version--one toasted marshmallow and 3 squares of Hershey's chocolate bar mushed between two graham crackers, you'll be consuming about 142 calories.

Feel free to tinker with tradition, though. These Grilled Banana S'mores use dark chocolate and swap the marshmallow for a grilled banana. Genius!